2014

The Commission presents new trade policy measures in order to achieve the growth and employment targets of the Europe 2020 strategy. The Commission is especially keen on the increased opening of foreign markets for services, investments and public procurement. Moreover, the future EU trade policy is support “green growth” and “climate change objectives” in principle.

2014

In its Communication, the Commission proposes measures intended to contribute to more flexible labour markets, job creation, workers’ qualification and the improvement of working conditions.

The Commission’s considerations regarding employment policy are based on an EU headline target adopted under the strategy “Europe 2020” [COM(2010) 2020] whose aim it is to achieve an employment rate of 75% by 2020. In order to reach this target, the Commission is shifting its focus from a merely reactive to an anticipatory policy approach, as is already evident in the Single Market Act [COM(2010) 608] and the Flagship Initiative on the Innovation Union [COM(2010) 546], as well as an “Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era“ [COM(2010 614)].

2014

The Commission wishes to revive the single market with the Single Market Act, incorporating it into the economic strategy “Europe 2020” for sustainable growth and increased employment. The Commission has made 50 proposals, both legislative and non-legislative, which are to be adopted by 2012. The idea is that by “completing, deepening and making full use of the single market” an annual potential growth of 4% of the GDP over the next ten years can be achieved.

2014

Forgoing “major spending programmes“ and focussing on the establishment of efficient framework conditions is reasonable from an ordoliberal standpoint. However, they should apply equally to all companies. Therefore, the Commission should forgo sector-specific measures; they bear the potential for competitive distortion.

2014

According to the Commission, “major societal challenges” (e.g. climate change, energy scarcity and demographic change) can only be overcome through research and innovation. To this end, the Commission intends to improve the framework conditions for research and innovation and to coordinate innovations effectively. In addition to the establishment of a “European Research Area”, it propagates (pre-commercial) public procurement to promote innovations. In order to tackle “grand challenges”, “European Innovation Partnerships” are to be initiated.

2014

The Commission submits a Green Paper in order to discuss the future role and scope of an audit in the “general context of financial market regulatory reform”. Governance rules and an improved supervision are to contribute to more competition and increased stability in the financial system.

2014

During the “energy summit” on 4 February 2011, the European Council will discuss the Commission’s “Energy Strategy 2020“ and its „concept for an integrated European energy network”. According to the Commission’s estimate approximately 1 trillion Euros must be invested in the EU energy system by 2020 in order to achieve the EU targets for renewable energies and energy efficiency and to develop the necessary energy infrastructure.

2014

According to the Commission, the EU must urgently invest in outdated and poorly interconnected energy infrastructure in order to meet their energy policy and climate objectives by 2020. To this end, national approval procedures for projects of European interest are to be streamlined and better coordinated. The Commission announces to submit guidelines or a legislative proposal on cost allocation to address major or cross-border projects through tariff or investment rules in 2011.

2014

In Spring 2011, the Commission will be publishing a “European resolution framework”. This framework is to allow credit institutions to fail whilst avoiding costs to taxpayers and without endangering financial stability.

2014

Already in the “Women’s Charter“ of March 2010, the Commission announced to strengthen the gender perspective in all its policies. The current Communication substantiates the Commission’s announcement by describing the key areas for action and which measures it wishes to take. The Commission remains rather vague in its Communication, but has published a working document [SEC(2010) 1079] accompanying the Communication with a catalogue of 130 specific, non-legislative measures.